Jones High ATH Wilkenson Myrtil commits to FIU

CHIRS HAYS/ORLANDO SENTINEL

Wilkenson Myrtil will play college football at FIU.

Wilkenson Myrtil will play college football at FIU. (CHIRS HAYS/ORLANDO SENTINEL)

By Chris Hays | Orlando Sentinel

It was a pretty simple process for Orlando Jones High athlete Wilkenson Myrtil, who lives by pretty simple standards. He took an official visit to Florida International University this weekend and liked it, so he committed on the spot to new head coach Ron Turner and the FIU program.

But realizing the dream of committing to play football at an NCAA Division I-A institution does not change anything, says Myrtil

“It’s no different now that how I felt before,” Myrtil said Sunday after returning home from the Miami school. “I’m still the same ole kid I’ve always been. It’s just that more eyes will be on me now.”

Indeed they will and that’s not to say Myrtil isn’t excited about the opportunity. He had three other schools in his list of finalists and picked the Panthers over Akron, Middle Tennessee State and UMass.

“It’s a great environment, it’s close to home and it has a good history,” Myrtil said. “They have a new coaching staff and they are a bunch of well-rounded guys who all took me under their wings while I was there. They’re nice people. Coach Patterson [D-line coach Andre Patterson] and Coach Conklin [defensive coordinator Josh Conklin] and the rest of the crew, they are real good guys.”

It’s hard to not like Myrtil, who is always the one running around the Jones High field with a smile on his face. He’s been through many progressions during his high school career, which included transferring from Orlando Agape Christian after his sophomore season.

During the spring, Jones head coach Kenard Lang, who is now at Apopka Wekiva, added Myrtil to the running back rotation after he added weight on his frail frame and grew about two inches. He came into the spring at 6-foot-1, 195-pounds and he made good of Lang’s decision. Myrtil helped an explosive Jones High offense that averaged 30.3 points per game. He also played safety and linebacker on defense.

Myrtil said he will be playing safety at FIU.

“I feel pretty confident about it,” Myrtil said. “Safety is what I like, pretty much. They told me I’m a flexible player, explosive and I strike at the point of attack.”